2013 Astros: Game by game

TORONTO — Astros manager Bo Porter was more direct than he’s been all season discussing the state of his struggling team and a porous bullpen that has an MLB-worst 5.23 ERA and continues to blow winnable late-game situations.

“It’s frustrating for everybody,” Porter said Saturday during a pregame interview at Rogers Centre. “He’s just as frustrated as I am. And it’s one of those things where, again, you look at the options that we have (in the bullpen), those are the guys that’s going to get the ball and it hasn’t been good. And that’s just point blank — that’s the best way that I can put it.”

The Astros were considering making righthander Paul Clemens a starter. He was optioned to Class AAA Oklahoma City on Saturday, though, and will be worked into the RedHawks’ starting rotation. Clemens allowed four hits and six runs in just 1/3 of an inning Friday.

“It’s pretty obvious to everyone that they need to do a better job,” Porter said. “This is a production-driven business. The longer that you go without doing a good job, somebody else is going to have your job.”

Asked whether a highly unreliable bullpen was wearing on him and a team that’s 34 games below .500, Porter said there was no way he couldn’t be affected.

“If it doesn’t bother you, then probably something’s wrong with you,” he said. “So, if you’re asking does it bother me, of course it bothers me. But at the same time, I have a job to do to lead this team and I can’t be more point blank and clear than I’ve been. It’s up to them to do a better job. And it’s up to us to give them enough opportunity to where, if they’re not going to do a better job, then we need to go in another direction and find somebody else.”